By Joana Rocha, Research Assistant at the Centre for Biomedical Engineering Research (C-BER)
I recently learned that, until 2019, there were no average adult female dummies being used in car crash safety tests [1]. Instead, the repercussions of car crashes were measured only on a male test dummy called Hybrid III, which was created in 1976 and is still used today, almost 50 years later [2]. The results are car safety innovations that benefit men and men only, even though women are two to three times more likely to suffer whiplash injuries than men [3], and yet left unrepresented in these experiments.
This got me thinking about how often women are overlooked when it comes to taking in research positions, but also, perhaps even more shockingly, overlooked in those researches’ practical outcomes. As of today, a female dummy does exist, but is not required in the four different tests that form the current car crash test regime in the United States. Not only that, it is just a scaled-down version of the male dummy – it doesn’t have any of the physiological differences that women have, such as being smaller and lighter, having broader hips and wider pelvises, and sitting closer to the wheel than men. This means the model used today still does not represent and does not benefit the average woman, who is left to deal with the life-threatening consequences of the lack of her own representativity [1].
Women have been making significant contributions to the field of science for centuries. Despite facing numerous obstacles such as gender bias, discrimination, and limited access to education and resources, women have persisted and excelled in various scientific disciplines. Throughout history, there have been pioneering women who have shattered stereotypes and paved the way for future generations. A very well-known example is Marie Curie, a physicist and chemist who conducted groundbreaking research on radioactivity. Curie’s work not only earned her two Nobel Prizes but also laid the foundation for advancements in nuclear physics and medicine. In addition to Curie, countless other women have made significant contributions to science across diverse fields. Rosalind Franklin’s work on the structure of DNA was instrumental in discovering its double helix structure, although her contributions were often overshadowed by her male counterparts. Ada Lovelace, regarded as the world’s first computer programmer, laid the groundwork for modern computing with her work on Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine in the 19th century. Many more examples could be given in this article, but the truth is that regardless of the progress made in recent years, gender disparities persist in areas such as STEM education, research funding, and leadership positions within academia and industry.
As for myself, a young female researcher, I am very lucky to have shared my MSc years with plenty of strong determined intelligent women by my side, and I feel that I continue to do so during my PhD. The women with whom we share our daily routines are surely the ones that most impact our vision of the future, and they deeply inspire me to keep pursuing my career goals. At INESC TEC, I have the opportunity to work on a topic that fascinates me, computer-aided diagnosis, and contribute to the advances in the automated detection of thoracic pathologies. But I am also proud to mention that the Biomedical Imaging Lab is currently composed of a team with nearly 50% women, which makes me hopeful regarding the efforts being made to address all the disparities. It is essential to continue to promote diversity and inclusion while providing mentorship and support networks for women in science.
Back to the initial subject, I would like to take this opportunity to mention Dr. Astrid Linde, at the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, who led the biggest step forward in car crash testing in 2022 by creating a new virtual female car crash test dummy: the best – and only – representation of the average women since car crash tests started over 50 years ago [4]. I was not aware of her research group before writing this piece, but I am glad that I had the chance to discover, recognize, and celebrate another achievement of women in science. Sharing her achievements not only honours her contributions but also inspires current and future generations of female scientists to keep challenging the biases. We can all contribute to this mission by fostering an environment that values diversity and equity and ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to pursue their passion for science and contribute to the advancement of knowledge and innovation.
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